Vaus, Cunningham win Poway council seats

POWAY — Councilman Jim Cunningham easily won re-election to a second four-year-term on the Poway City Council and Steve Vaus trumped candidate Jeff Mangum for the other open seat, according to unofficial election results released Wednesday morning.

Cunningham, 55, an attorney, and Vaus each had roughly 33 percent of the vote, with 100 percent of precincts counted. Mangum had about 22 percent and the fourth candidate, Gary Vineyard, had 11 percent.

Vaus, 60, a businessman and musician, and Mangum, 56, an attorney, have been involved in a contentious, negative race that is unusual for Poway politics.

Vaus and Mangum have argued at forums and in mailers with Vaus attempting to link Mangum to the Poway Unified School District’s bond controversy. Mangum sat on the school board for 16 years but left in 2010 before a crucial school board vote last year that will ultimately cost taxpayers $1 billion to pay off a bond — more than nine times the $126 million the school district borrowed.

Mangum says he did not vote for the bond deal and that Vaus’ attempt to connect him to it is dishonest.

This is Mangum’s first try to get on the council. Vaus lost a very close race in 2010 to replace Betty Rexford who was recalled during a special election — a recall led by Vaus.

“There are still a lot of votes to be counted,” Vaus said after the first tally was released Tuesday night. “But it looks great. We had a great team that ran a great campaign. For them to be part of something that looks like it’s going to go on and win is just awesome.”

Both Vaus and Cunningham spent months knocking on doors around the city. Vaus said he and his team went to more than 6,000 homes in Poway during the campaign.

“I’m absolutely delighted that people enjoy Poway and that this is not a city where voters seek great change,” Cunningham said of his apparent re-election. “They love Poway. When I was walking precincts that’s all they ever said to me when I asked them what they would like to change. They said don’t change anything.”

Vaus is seeking to fill the council seat being vacated by Merrilee Boyack who chose not to run again after serving two terms. Boyack endorsed Vaus' candidacy almost one year ago.